North and Central America and Caribbean

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation. Due to Bermuda’s status as a British Overseas Territory the local authorities deal with all requests for consular-type assistance. See Entry Requirements, Health and General.
  

• The hurricane season in Bermuda normally runs from June to November. (See Natural Disasters.)  Travellers can monitor the progress of storms on the National Hurricane Center website at www.nhc.noaa.gov or on the Bermuda Weather Service website at www.weather.bm .
  
  

• Most visits to Bermuda are trouble-free. There is however a moderate crime rate and you should take precautions.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our terrorism abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Crime
Bermuda has a moderate crime rate driven in part by the drugs scene. Serious incidents, including use of weapons, do occur. Take precautions to ensure your personal safety, and to safeguard your possessions. Common crimes include burglary, mugging, theft of unattended baggage and belongings, and theft of items from rental scooters. 

Please see the Bermuda Police Service website which provides Tourist Safety Tips.  Particular caution should be exercised after dark.

You are advised to stick to well-lit parts of the island and avoid the quieter, darker streets. There have been incidents of sexual offences. See our rape and sexual assault abroad page.  Should you need assistance you should contact the Bermuda Police Service in the first instance. 

See our victims of crime abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Road Travel
Tourists are not permitted to drive cars in Bermuda.

Buses, ferries and taxis are safe, frequent and efficient. You cannot hire a car in Bermuda, but 50cc scooters are readily available for public hire. Bermuda drives on the left, as in the UK.  Roads are narrow, winding and undulating, and traffic may be heavy. Road accidents involving scooters are relatively common, and have resulted in serious injury or even death. You should take care. The speed limit in Bermuda is 35kpm (22mph).

Outside the major urban areas there are few footpaths or street lighting. Take care when out walking, especially at night. 

See our driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Political situation

Bermuda Country Profile

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession or importation of even small quantities attracts severe penalties. Likewise, the possession or importation of weapons or ammunition (including air pistols and catapults) is illegal and those caught will also be subject to severe penalties.

Bermuda, while welcoming, is a conservative place and you should dress modestly. Bathing suits, revealing tops and short shorts should only be worn at the beach or pools. There are no nude or topless beaches and it is an offence to appear in public topless or wearing a bathing suit top. Drinking alcohol in public outside of licensed premises is not allowed. 

See our your trip page. 

Entry Requirements - Visas
British passport holders do not require visas to enter Bermuda as a visitor but accommodation must be booked prior to arrival. The usual length of stay automatically permitted to a visitor is twenty-one days. Anyone travelling via the USA must have at least six months’ validity remaining on their passport. For visa enquiries, non-British passport holders should visit the website of the UK Border Agency and the Government of Bermuda website.

If you want to extend your stay, permission must be sought from the Department of Immigration before your initial twenty-one day stay ends. While an extension of stay is not automatic, extensions are normally granted. Bermuda Immigration will help in cases of problems with passports and visas.  

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Bermuda. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Work permits
If you wish to work in Bermuda, you must secure a job before coming to the island. Your employer will then apply to the Department of Immigration for a work permit, and once this is received you may enter the country to work. You may not seek employment while visiting Bermuda.

Department of Immigration, Government Administration Building, Parliament Street, Hamilton.   (Tel:  +1 441 295 5151; fax:  +1 441 295 4115) www.gov.bm

 
Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Entry Requirements – Medication
Travellers to Bermuda should ensure that any medication is carried in the prescribed packaging and accompanied by the prescription. For further information see the website of H.M. Customs of Bermuda.

Bermuda has good modern medical facilities with a fully equipped General Hospital and numerous doctors and dentists. King Edward Memorial Hospital has a good Accident and Emergency Department.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Bermuda and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our travel health page.

The hurricane season in Bermuda normally runs from June to November.  You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Center.  See our Tropical Cyclones page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Ensure that this covers medical repatriation by Air Ambulance as cases that cannot be dealt with in Bermuda are usually referred to either Baltimore or Boston in the USA. Also ensure that your insurance covers any additional medical expenses incurred in the USA. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page. 

General - Registration
You should register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. 

General - Consular assistance in Bermuda
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory; there is no British Diplomatic or Consular representation.  British Citizen Passports are issued by the British Embassy in Washington via this website: ukinusa.fco.gov.uk and British Overseas Territory Passports are issued by the Bermuda Government Department of Immigration. The Bermuda Police Force will assist with other crime related matters.

Department of Immigration, Government Administration Building, Parliament Street, Hamilton.   (Tel:  +1 441 295 5151; fax:  +1 441 295 4115); www.gov.bm

Central Police Station, 42 Parliament Street, Hamilton. (Tel:  +1 441 295 0011; fax:  +1 441 299 4559). 

UK Representative of Bermuda

Ms Kimberley Durrant
Government of Bermuda
London Office
6 Arlington Street
London
SW1A 1RE
Tel:  020 7518 9900
Fax:  020 7518 9901
E-mail:  londonoffice@gov.bm
Website: http://www.gov.bm

Useful websites: 

http://www.gov.bm
Bermuda Online
http://www.bermudatourism.com